I just got back from a brief trip to Vancouver, BC. We didn't have time to read Fodor's and Lonely Planet and all that ahead of time, though we knew where we really wanted to go. But it got me wondering: what are the best tips for exploring a new city? Obviously, preparation is great, but what if you don't have time? How do you avoid tourist traps and find interesting places to go?

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Personally, I'm enamored of the growing selection of "travel podcasts," which offer walking tours of cities, museums, and the like. But as I don't travel much, I haven't really put them to the test. What say you, Lifehacker brain trust?